Inositols: From Established Knowledge to Novel Approaches
Fonte: International Journal of Molecular Science, 30/09/2021
Pubblicato il 05/10/2021
Abstract
Myo-inositol (myo-Ins) and D-chiro-inositol (D-chiro-Ins) are natural compounds involved in many biological pathways. Since the discovery of their involvement in endocrine signal transduction, myo-Ins and D-chiro-Ins supplementation has contributed to clinical approaches in ameliorating many gynecological and endocrinological diseases. Currently both myo-Ins and D-chiro-Ins are well-tolerated, effective alternative candidates to the classical insulin sensitizers, and are useful treatments in preventing and treating metabolic and reproductive disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and male fertility disturbances, like sperm abnormalities. Moreover, besides metabolic activity, myo-Ins and D-chiro-Ins deeply influence steroidogenesis, regulating the pools of androgens and estrogens, likely in opposite ways. Given the complexity of inositol-related mechanisms of action, many of their beneficial effects are still under scrutiny. Therefore, continuing research aims to discover new emerging roles and mechanisms that can allow clinicians to tailor inositol therapy and to use it in other medical areas, hitherto unexplored. The present paper outlines the established evidence on inositols and updates on recent research, namely concerning D-chiro-Ins involvement into steroidogenesis. In particular, D-chiro-Ins mediates insulin-induced testosterone biosynthesis from ovarian thecal cells and directly affects synthesis of estrogens by modulating the expression of the aromatase enzyme. Ovaries, as well as other organs and tissues, are characterized by a specific ratio of myo-Ins to D-chiro-Ins, which ensures their healthy state and proper functionality. Altered inositol ratios may account for pathological conditions, causing an imbalance in sex hormones. Such situations usually occur in association with medical conditions, such as PCOS, or as a consequence of some pharmacological treatments. Based on the physiological role of inositols and the pathological implications of altered myo-Ins to D-chiro-Ins ratios, inositol therapy may be designed with two different aims: (1) restoring the inositol physiological ratio; (2) altering the ratio in a controlled way to achieve specific effects.
View Full-Text: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/19/10575#
Capitolo di Tonino Cantelmi e Cherubino Di Lorenzo
Abstract
Neurological and psychiatric conditions, like bipolar disorder (BD), include the excessive activation of neuronal phosphoinositide signaling pathway among the pathogenetic mechanisms. The pharmacological management relies on the use of mood stabilizers like lithium (Li+), valproic acid (VA), and carbamazepine (CBZ) with the aim to reduce the firing and the severity of the manic phases, which are typical of BD. One of their mechanisms of action consists in reducing levels of inositol in the brain, whose high levels in the central nervous system (CNS) correlate with the firing of the manic phases. However, the use of such drugs exposes patients to various side effects that share an altered metabolism of inositols. Indeed, the inositol depletion occurring in CNS as a therapeutic outcome involves also peripheral tissues thus determining the occurrence of pathological conditions like hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), weight gain, cardiac and renal alterations, dermatological problems. To date, clinicians have no tools to counteract such side effects; therefore, inositol administration represents a step forward in the management of patients with BD bridging the therapeutic gap in clinical practice.